Eleven women died and 49 others were critical after a botched sterilisation drive at a State-run camp in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district, prompting the Government to suspend four doctors and transfer the Director of Health Service. Most of the victims are in their early 30s. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh asking him to ensure a thorough investigation and punitive action in the matter.
“The death toll is 11 so far and remaining 61 patients are under observation,” Bilaspur Division Commissioner Sonmoni Borah told The Pioneer over telephone.
He said that a medical team from Raipur has already arrived and another team from AIIMS, Raipur, will arrive on Wednesday to investigate the matter and also help us with the treatment of the patients.As many as 72 women were admitted to different hospitals on Monday after they developed post-operative complications at a sterilisation camp organised by the Government at Nemichand Jain Hospital in Bilaspur on Saturday.
The patients were discharged immediately after the surgery on Saturday and later reported problems which were taken lightly by the family members considering it to be effect of the surgery. However, the patients complained of abdominal pain and vomiting and their condition deteriorated by Sunday. The reason for death is not known as the authorities are waiting for the post-mortem report.
Hospital sources said that Dr RK Gupta - who had been suspended - and his assistant had performed 83 surgeries within six hours at the camp. All the sterilisation camps in the district have been suspended after the incident.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has suspended four officers of the Health Department with immediate effect. The officers suspended are — Government surgeon Dr RK Gupta, State Coordinator of Family Welfare Programme Dr KC Oram, Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) Dr SC Bhange, Block Medical
Chief Minister Raman Singh has also ordered to lodge an FIR against Dr RK Gupta. The State Government organises sterilisation camps and gives Rs1,400 to the patients and incentive to the health workers who bring patients for family planning surgeries.Meanwhile the PMO in a statement said: “The PM spoke to Chhattisgarh CM @drramansingh on the unfortunate tragedy in Bilaspur. The PM expressed concern over the tragedy.”
Minister of State for Health Shripad Yesso Naik said that a high-level panel has been constituted to ascertain the reasons behind the death of the women. “We would take action after the report is submitted by the panel comprising of officials from the Ministry,” said Naik, who took charge of the Ministry here.
A team of doctors from Delhi AIIMS is leaving for Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, to attend to the victims of sterilisation tragedy which claimed the lives of eight women and left many in critical condition.